Pastor Bob DuPar
April 4, 2008
Journal Entry
Scripture
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17.
Observation
I liked the last verse in our OT reading today the best:
“Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them…”
I liked this verse simply because the message is that we confirm God’s Word by doing it – by putting it into practice. This may not sound very earth-shaking, but how practical!
I found Proverbs 12:15 very helpful and insightful as well:
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”
This verse reminds me of Proverbs 24:6, “…in the abundance of counselors there is victory.”
I never understood the parable about persistence in Luke 11 until someone explained to me that this story is not teaching that we have to nag God to death to get Him to respond. The point of this parable and others like it is “how much more” will your heavenly Father respond to your needs – not because He feels obligated or pestered, but because He wants to.
Application
Well, the application from Deuteronomy 27:26 is clear: confirm your belief by acting upon it. Proverbs: it’s smart to seek counsel vs. acting solo. And, in Luke, God wants to give good things to those who ask Him. So, I need to ask more.
Prayer
“God, thank You that You love me more than I can comprehend. Help me to trust You more and to anticipate the good that You desire for me.”
posted by Bob DuPar @ 8:53 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
Bob,
Are you as overwhelmed as I by the curses for the failure to follow God's commandments? In addition, the promise that the lamp of the body is the eye, and that the light will fill your whole body with darkness if you look into the dark is confirmation of what you said Friday. Maybe the biggest challenge we have as men is to keep ourselves looking at what is good and wholesome and to flee temptation. May God grant us the strength to keep our eyes on Him alone!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Ro 12:21 We need to always remember that as strong or as enticing as evil may be - "good" is more powerful because God is good. As both of you have commented, so much of doing good has to do with our focus.
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